Ark Community Charter School to close at end of academic year

J.S. CARRAS - THE RECORD
The Ark Community Charter School, located at 762 River Street in Troy, will be closing at the end of this school year. The SUNY Board of Trustees Charter Schools Committee voted Monday not to renew the school’s charter for the 2014-15 school year.

TROY >> A state committee has decided to close a charter school in Troy that has more than 200 students and about 30 employees.

Established in 2001, originally at a location on Hutton and 13th streets, the Ark Community Charter School on River Street was notified earlier this year that the state Charter Schools Institute was recommending its closure due to not meeting state standards.

A vote on the topic at the end of February was tabled until a meeting of the SUNY Board of Trustees Charter Schools Committee on Monday, during which members finalized the decision and voted to shutter the K-6 school and not renew its charter.

This is expected to take effect at the end of this school year, officials said.

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It is unclear where the students will transfer for 2014-2015 school year in the fall, said Ark board chair Steven Axelrod.

“Each parent makes the choice of what school they want to enroll their child to attend next year. We’ll provide all the support we can, but it’s really out of our hands,” he said.

There was a healthy waiting list of about 100 pupils, said principal Mary Theresa Streck in a prior interview. She referred questions to Axelrod, who noted that there will likely be an Ark board meeting on Thursday.

Peggy Kownack, who lives near the school and knows several families there, remarked, “The closure of the Ark Community Charter School is devastating to Uptown Troy. The school is an anchor for the neighborhood and its loss will have an adverse effect. The services that the Ark provided to its students and their families sadly are woefully lacking within our public educational systems.”

Troy City School District superintendent John Carmello stated: “We recognize, and are sensitive to, the fact that this is a difficult time for the students and the families at Ark. The Troy School District is prepared to welcome all of these students to our schools, where they will get a high quality education from caring, supportive adults who will do whatever it takes to help them reach their full potential and achieve success, academically and socially. We will be reaching out to the families in the near future to arrange for an open house where we will highlight the great things the Troy School District has to offer.”

Anna Hall, COO of Troy Prep charter school, added, “I would say that any time a school closes it is difficult — for the school, the families and the community. In particular, the Ark’s focus on caring for its students, their families and the community throughout its long history is admirable. Troy Prep and Uncommon Schools continue to be committed to the success of all students in Troy and so will do everything we can to support the Ark and its staff, students and families during a difficult transition.”

Along with an Ark board meeting on Thursday, the school will also hold its spring performance that day at 1 p.m., school officials said.